The Canterbury Tales: Examining Chaucer's Views on the Church

Summary: Discusses the Canterbury Tales," Geoffrey Chaucer. Describes how Chaucer uses the stories to express his views on the Church. Considers how Chaucer views the Church as hypocritical and lacking spirituality.

In the story the Canterbury Tales," Geoffrey Chaucer regards the church as corrupt and profligate. Members of the Church show a particular belief in exoneration, upon where their sins are vindicated. Chaucer views the Church as hypocritical, and lacking spirituality. As portrayed by the Nun, Monk, and Friar we can see how the prominent members of the Church distance themselves from spirituality and move toward superficiality and other modernized ideas.

The Nun, who held the title of the Prioress, characterizes a very negligent person. She neglects the fact that there are thousands of poor people starving in the streets, as she delightedly feeds her small dogs fancy delicacies. She weeps when a mouse dies in a trap, while hundreds of people die of hunger and abject living conditions. As told by Chaucer "She had little dogs she would be feeding with roasted flesh, or milk, or fine white...